ALS9 — Candida albicans

Summary

C6_03710W_A (ALS9) in Candida albicans chromosome 6 encodes an agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) family protein, a cell-surface adhesin containing agglutinin-like repeats. The gene product is associated with fibronectin, laminin, and peptide binding, and localizes to the yeast-form and hyphal cell walls, extracellular vesicles, and plasma membrane. ALS9 is linked to multiple biological processes including cell adhesion involved in biofilm formation (both single-species and multi-species), adhesion of symbiont to host, host invasion, germ tube formation, flocculation, cytokine production, and reductive iron assimilation. It is also connected to cellular responses to thermal stimulus and copper ion homeostasis. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to reduced virulence and disseminated candidiasis.